it's all about the quest...sharp & insightful information with analysis of the arts, celebrities, designers, various publications, and society.

Sunday, March 01, 2015

The Quest for "it" is currently on hiatus, March 1st 2015 through our 10 year anniversary date. We will not be publishing NEW and/or DAILY CONTENT at this time, with exception of occasional content from our Sponsors.

Please do visit our event listings in various cities as this section of the site will remain active.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Interior Design enthusiasts rejoiced last evening as the 2009 Hampton Designer ShowhouseGala Party Preview got underway. Presented by Traditional Home,*** to benefit the Southampton Hospital, the gala party kicked off a 6 week run which ends on September 6, 2009.

On a stunning Watermill estate (see photo below) stood a showhouse where approximately 25 interior designers and decorative artists turned a lavish shingle style home, built by Farrell Building Co., into a decorating masterpiece. The range of contemporary to classic bedrooms, day rooms, and living rooms was nothing short of spectacular. Standouts included: Marshall Watson, Brad Ford, Ellen Hamilton, LLE-Dom Contemporary Art Glass, and Janna Bullock for Art, Architecture and Design. We spoke with two interior designers who brilliantly described their rooms and the inspirations behind their design choices.

Hamilton Design Associates' brightly colored day room was the most ornate visual treat -- completed in greens and pinks with a fabulous day bed that was a magnificent centerpiece for the room. Ellen Hamilton shared, "this room is sort of a tribute to an English woman -- it's filled with flowers, children, dogs, and old furniture. The idea was maybe you inherited it all. Ebony from Salon, the table these two pieces are from the South of India (hand painted) -- teak and jackwood." A beautiuful brightly colored pink chair was an excellent reproduction of an Edwardian style lounge chair. Most impressive were the delicate and wildly feminine fine fabric choices on the furniture, as well as the unique wallpaper byOsborne and Little designerSuzy Hoodless.Ms. Hoodless' wallpaper offers beautiful lily of the valleys (via a handpainted feel) inspired by an enormous field of Foxgloves she'd viewed first hand in Scottland.

Marshall Watson of Marshall Watson Interiors, a firm known for its architecture and the emphasis of architecture, showed a outstanding dining room display. Mr. Watson spoke of the richness of his design choices from the texure of his glassware to the process of the room's delicately designed ceiling. "The concept here is that it is a mixture of contemporary and very traditional, but a lot of mascularity in the room, a big mascular slab dining table made out of one piece of a tree trunk, a living edge table...the walls are English oil glazed walls made with organic shellac, stencil (glazed three times) stenciled ceilings, and interesting lighting fixture which is made of bee skeps, etc." We were most impressed by the continuation of his dining room to an intimate wine cellar done by Mr. Watson's bother (Joullian Vineyards Ltd.) and featuring wines selected byEast Hampton wine and Spirits supplier Domaine Franey.

On the sprawling back lawn, well over a hundred guests enjoyed cocktails and hors douerves, and the opportunity to show off their finest summer attire. A picturesque golden hues field, grecian style swimming pool, and nearby pool house were all part of the landscape. A fitting offshoot of the main showhouse was the lush interior of the pool house done completely by Lillian August. Noteworthy attendees included the likes of Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, B. Smith, R. Couri Hay, and many others. For more information on The Hamptons Designer Showhouse please visit www.hamptons designershowhouse.com

***-Traditional Home is the single magazine that celebrates the pleasures of modern life through the prism of classic taste.

Today marks the first in what hopefully will be a long and successful series here at The Quest for "it". Based on the overwhelming popularity of The Quest for "it" Video Coverage of Olympus Fashion Week SPR 07 (officially titled LIVE from the Tents) I have begun a series of designer showroom interviews.***

"At the Showroom" gives a poignant encapsulation of the featured designer's current line, allowing him or her to showcase their work in a way that is not always possible during the rigors of fashion week. This is not strictly fashion -- this is business, and the showroom is where the two meet dead on. What one sees on the runway season after season is the end result, but what happens at the showroom is just the beginning....

The first episode will feature DETNY shoe designers Shane and Shawn Ward. Look for the post shortly and an updated schedule of episodes to come...enjoy!

***-The first was scheduled to run originally on Monday October 9, 2006 and feature the beautiful leather and suede designs of Sixxfoota designer Anita Watkins. However, we had to readjust as the footage was not yet complete. My sincerest apologies to anyone who may have been awaiting this piece.

COCKTAIL CORNER

There is nothing more luxurious than the perfect cocktail. Certainly everyone should drink responsibly and when out on the quest one can drink "fashionably" with the help of this little cocktail suggestion